International
Vatican’s China deal may protect Chinese Catholics, keep Pope Francis silent
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A new deal with the Vatican could protect Chinese Catholics but silence Pope Francis’ critiques of China.
Trump’s limp response to Uighur persecution
As religious groups weigh virus response, Samaritan’s Purse donates a field hospital
Human rights advocates welcome ‘landmark’ UN ruling to prevent Rohingya genocide
(RNS) — A unanimous ruling by the International Court of Justice demanded that the Myanmar government prevent any genocidal acts and preserve all evidence of state-led atrocities against the Rohingya minority, including murder, torture, rape and arson.
Suicide bomber targets clerics in Afghan capital; 50 killed
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of Muslim religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
German bishops apologize for thousands of sex abuse cases
BERLIN (AP) — The apology came on the same day that Pope Francis acknowledged that the sex abuse scandal rocking the Catholic Church was driving people away.
In Nigeria, fears that a crackdown on Muslim group will court another Boko Haram
ABUJA, Nigeria (RNS) — Muslims on the ground and experts in Washington worry that the detention of a Shiite cleric and the killings of his followers will provoke the Islamic Movement of Nigeria into waging war.
Thirty years on, why ‘The Satanic Verses’ remains so controversial
(The Conversation) — Author Salman Rushdie’s book goes to the heart of Muslim religious beliefs and challenges some of the most sensitive tenets.
Israeli court fines ultra-Orthodox radio station for banning women from the air
JERUSALEM (RNS) — After a lawsuit was filed, the station began permitting women to speak during limited hours, “and only on stereotypically female topics like recipes or education,” said an activist.
No longer the default, Church of England goes to battle in religious marketplace
LONDON (RNS) — For the past two years the Church of England has committed itself to developing a strong presence online, with a particular target of attracting people who do not regularly go to church.
How an ancient Islamic holiday became uniquely Caribbean
(The Conversation) — In Trinidad, where Muslims make up 5 percent of the population, a parade of colorful floats marks the Shiite holy day of Ashura, but the festival also commemorates those killed in the anti-British Hosay riots in 1884.
Fear of Ebola keeps the faithful at home in Congo
KAMPALA, Uganda (RNS) — In a bid to contain the virus, thousands of churches remain closed in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Banned from meeting in church, Rwandan worshippers gather at home
KIGALI, Rwanda (RNS) — An estimated 8,000 churches and 100 mosques have been closed in what some say is a human rights violation, but which the government defends as a move to require clergy to meet modest standards for education.
Why Putin is an ally for American evangelicals
(The Conversation) — In the 21st century, evangelical conservatives aren’t promoting their agenda by smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain, but by harnessing Putin’s reputation as a leader in the resurgent global Right.
Indonesian president invokes ‘Pancasila’ to counter rising Islamism
(RNS) — Pancasila, a set of founding principles including ‘belief in the the One and Only God,’ has historically demanded respect for the country’s six formally recognized faiths.